Electric indicator.



J. W. WILEY & J. A. KROPP.

ELECTRIC INDICATOR.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 30, 1912.

Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

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UNITED sTA ts PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH W. WILEY AND JOHN A. KROPP, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC INDICATOR.

Application filed July 30, 1912.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, JOSEPH W. VVlLEY and JOHN A. KROPP, citizens of the United States, residing at Oak Park, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electric Indicators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in the construction of electric indicators for displaying information by means of characters exposed upon a display device, the dis play being brought about from a distance by the manipulation of a sending key or device in circult with the display device.

One object of the invention is to provide a simple and convenient apparatus for use in shops and factories to facilitate the keeping of records of time spent by employees on particular jobs or pieces of work; and the accompanying drawing shows the apparatus, constructed in accordance with the in vention, and especially devised for that purpose.

In the drawingFigure 1 is a perspective view of the sending key or device; Fig. 2,

an enlarged broken View showing the interior construction of said device; Figs. 3 and 4, perspective views of detached parts, or details of construction, of the sending device; Fig. 5, a perspective view of the display device mechanism; Fig. 6, a broken fragmentary view of the display face portion of the display device; Fig. 7, a diagrammatic view of one of a plurality of similar electric circuits with interposed switches and magnets; and Fig. 8, an enlarged broken section taken on line 8 in Fig. 3.

The reference numeral 12 designates the casing of the sending device or key. J ournaled in the casing 12 is a shaft 13. Loosely mounted on the shaft are Wheels 15, 16, 17 and 18, provided on their faces with the numerals one to naught, in sequence as shown, adapted to be moved across display openings 19 in the casing 12. Each of the wheels 15, 16, 17 and 18, is provided with a radiallyextending finger or handle 20, which project through segmental slots 20 in the casing 12. In line with the shaft 13 is a shaft 22 provided beyond the end of the casing 12 with a crank or handle 23. Secured upon the end of the shaft 13 is a disk 24 provided, on its side with a pin 25 (see Fig. 3). Secured to the end of the shaft 22, adjacent to the disk 24, is a cam-disk Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. '24, 1914.

Serial No. 712,364.

26 provided in its side with a socket 27 to receive the pin 25 on the disk 24 and thus permit the shafts 13, 22, to be clutched or locked together. The shaft 13 at its end opposite the shaft 22 engages a pin 77 fastened to the shaft of a clock-mechanism or spring-rotated gear 78, interposed between which and the shaft 13 is a spring 79 which tends to press the shaft 13 to the shaft 22 and the pin 25 on the disk 24 into the socket 27 of the cam-disk 26. Surrounding the shaft 22, adjacent to the bearing 28 in the end of the casing 12, is a stationary disk 29 provided on its side with a cam 30 (see F ig. 3). In the opening or socket 27 in the disk 26 is a pin 31, held normally extended, by a spring 32, into the path of the cam 30 on the disk 29, whereby when the shaft 22 is turned by means of the crank 23, the cam 30 presses the pin 31 against the end of the pin 25 to move the shaft 13 longitudinally, in the direction away from the shaft 22, against the resistance of the spring 79.

In the display device (Fig. 5) is a series of character, or number, wheels 33, 34, 35, 36, each provided on its face with consecutive numbers, one to naught, as shown, which move across display openings 37 in the display face of the casing of the display device, as indicated in Fig. 6. Beneath each of the wheels 33, 34, 35, 36, is an electromagnet 38 having an armature 39 hinged at one edge, as indicated at 40, to a stationary portion of the device. Integral with each of the wheels 33, 34, 35, 36, is a ratchetwheel 41, the teeth of which correspond with the numerals on the faces of the wheels. At each of the ratchet-wheels 41 is a pawl 42 pivotally connected at its lower end with the free swinging end of the respective armature 39. Also at each ratchet-wheel 41 is a dog 43 pivoted at its lower end upon the respective armature pivot and at its upper end engaging a tooth of the ratchet-wheel. Above each armature 39 is a spring 44 formed of a length of wire shaped and coiled as shown in Fig. 5. Each spring 44 is attached at one end to the respective dog 43 and at its opposite end with the companion pawl 42 and the tension of said springs is such that the pawls 42 are normally held in engagement with the toothed wheels and the armatures 39 are normally held in raised position. The springs also operate to press the dog and pawls into engagement wlth the teeth of the ratchet-wheels.

Then an electromagnet 38 is excited by the passage of an electro-current through it, it draws down its armature 39 causing the pawl 42 to turn the ratchet-wheel 11 the distance of one tooth and turn the respective number wheel the distance of one number. The wheels 33, 31, 35, 36, are all journaled upon a common stationary shaft 4.6 for independent operation whereby they may rotate .in sequence, and interposed between each of the wheels and the shaft is a coiled return-spring 47 against the resistance of which the wheels are turned by the pawls as described. On each of the wheels 33, 34, 35, 36, is a stop-pin 48 which when the wheels are in initial position contact with the upper ends of the dogs 43. Extending longitudinally beneath the wheels 33, 341, 35, 36, is a crank-shaft 19 carrying cross-pieces 50 to the ends of which are connected laterally projecting fingers 51, 52, bearing respectively against the pawls 42 and dogs 43. The reference numeral 53 designates an electromagnet having an armature 5 1 pivotally connected by means of a rod with the crank of the crank-shaft 49. hen the magnet 53 is excited by the passage of an electric-current through it it draws the armature 541 and forces the rod in the upward direction to turn the crank-shaft 19 and press the fingers 51, 52, against the pawls and dogs to release the same from the ratchet-wheels etl and permit the number wheels 33, 34;, 35, 36, to be returned by the springs 17 to initial position.

The wheels 15, 16, 17 and 18, of the sending device are provided with peripheral teeth or shoulders 56 corresponding in number with the numbers upon the wheel. In the casing 12 of the sending key are four spring contact switches 57, 58, 59 and 60, each comprising a. lower stationary contactplate connected with a binding post 61 and an upper contact-plate having a shoulder engaged by the periphery of the respective number wheel. Also in the casing 12 is a spring contact switch 62 having a lower stationary contact-plate connected with a binding-post 63 and an upper springy contactplate in the path of the cam surface of the cam-wheel 26. The reference numeral 64: designates a battery or other source of electric current, the wire from one pole of which extends to the stationary contact-plate of the switch 62, the wire from the other pole eX- tending to the magnet-winding 38. The lower stationary plates of the spring contact switches 57, 58, 59, 60 and 62, are insulated from the base plate of the casing 12 and from the companion springy plates, all of the latter, however, being fastened in place by screws 80 which enter said base plate.

Where the apparatus is to be employed in a shop or factory the sending key 12 may be located at the workmans bench while the display device would be located in the office. Before commencing upon a piece of work, which would be known by its shop number, or upon completion thereof, the workman will manipulate the sending key to display that number in the display device so that the clerk having charge of the time cards may note the time of commencement or ending of work upon the particular job. Presuming that the workman is about to start upon or has stopped work upon a job numbered 4164, he will first move the finger or handle 20 until it reaches the number 4 on a scale 21 at the side of the segmental slot 20 which will at the same time indicate the number 1 in the display opening 19 adjacent to the finger. He will then move the finger 20 of the wheel 16 until the number 6 thereon is brought into view at the respective display opening 19 and he will then move the finger of the wheel 17 to bring the number at of that wheel into view at the respective opening 19. Vhen this has been done the workman will turn the crank 23 from the normal position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, to the stop 65, causing the cam-wheel 26 to press the springy switch plate of the switch 62 down against the stationary lower plate of said switch. thereby connecting the battery with the spring plate contacts of the switches 57, 58, 59 and 60. The turning of the crank 23 and shaft 22 from normal position to the stop 65 causes the cam-disk 26 to move with its pin 31 along the cam 30 of the stationary plate or disk 29, whereby the pin 31 is pressed inward to force the pin 25 and the disk 2% with the shaft 13 along against the resistance of the spring 79.

The wheels 15, 16, 17 and 18, rotate between guides 66 on the base plate of the casing 12 and they are each provided on one side with a stud or pin 67. On the shaft 13, adjacent to each of the disks 15, 16, 17 and 18, are the pins 68 adapted to engage the respective pins 67. Normally the pins 67, 68, are just out of each others paths so that the wheels 15, 16, 17 and 18, may be turned freely upon the shaft 13 when setting up the numbers thereon in accordance with the scales on the casing 12. The turning of the crank 23 to the stop 65 to move the shaft 13 longitudinally, as described, carries the pins 68 thereon into the paths of rotation of the pins 67. In the turning of the crank 23 from normal position toward the stop 65 the shaft 13 is turned counter-clockwise until the cam 30 engages the pin 31 and forces the disk 24 out of engagement with the disk 26. Vhile the shaft 13 is being turned counterclockwise, as described, it winds up the clockwork 7 S, and when the shaft 13 is released from the shaft 22, through disengagement of the disks 24-, 26, the clockwork operates to turn the shaft 13 clockwise. In this latter turning of the shaft 13 the pins 68 contact with the pins 67 carrying them around and causing the disks to move with their teeth 56 across the springy plates of the contact switches 57, 58, 59, 60. The teeth 56 of the wheels correspond with the numbers on the faces of the wheels in such manner that in the turning of a wheel to set up a certain number as many teeth as are represented by that number will have passed across the shoulder 69 of the respective springy contact plate; and in the return of the wheel to initial position under the action of the clockwork the teeth 56 will successively engage the shoulder 69 and make contact between the springy plate and lower plate of the respective contact switch, the number ofcontacts corresponding with the number that has been set up by the respective wheel.

With each closure of a contact switch of the sending key in the return movement of the shaft 13 under the action of the clockwork 78, the particular battery circuit is closed through a magnet 38 to excite the same and draw down its armature 39. In the movement of the armature the respective number, or display, wheel of the display device is moved a distance of one tooth of its ratchet-Wheel 41, corresponding with one number on the number wheel, so that in the return movement of the shaft 13 of the sending key the corresponding number wheels of the display device will be moved in accordance with the numbers that have been set up on the sending key.

When the springy plate of the switch contact 62 is depressed by means of the camdisk 26, it is engagedand locked in switchclosing position, by a swinging catch 70 (Fig. 4) to close the circuit to the switches 57, 58, 59 and 60. In the return movement of the shaft 13 and disk 24 a pin 71 on said disk (see Fig. 4) engages the catch 70 and releases it against the resistance of its spring 74 from the spring contact plate of the switch 62, thereby releasing and causing opening of said switch. Surrounding the shaft 22 is aspring 72 which operates to turn the shaft 22 and the crank 23 back to initial position against a stop 73, when the crank is released by the operator.

It will be understood that normally the crank 23 rests against the stop 73, and the switch 62 is open, therefore when the operator is setting up the figures in the send.- ing key or device, turning of the number wheels across the contact-switches 57, 58, 59, 60, will send no impulses to the magnets 38. Such impulses will only be sent when the crank 23 is turned to the stop 65 to close the switch 62 and to release the shaft 13, so that the number-wheels 15, 16, 17, 18. will be returned to initial position by the clockwork and in thus returning their teeth 56 will close the respective contact-switches a number of times corresponding with the number set up on the particular wheel and that number of impulses will be sent to the particular magnet to turn the display wheel, as described, and cause it to display the said number.

The electromagnet 53 is in a shunt battery-circuit from the electromagnet 38, as indicated in Fig. 7. Interposed in the circuit of the magnet 53 is a release switch 73, shown in Fig. 7, which may be located in any convenient position in the line. When the clerk has noted the numbers indicated on the display device and recorded them upon a time card, he may close the switch 73 causing the electromagnet 53 to draw up the armature 54 and through the rod 55 rock the crank-shaft 4:9 and thus produce disengagement of the pawls and dogs from the ratchetwheels as before described, whereby the springs 47 will return the wheels 33, 34, 35, 36, to initial posit-ion.

The foregoing description is intended to convey a clear understanding of our improvements as we now prefer to provide them, and no undue limitation should be understood therefrom. It is our intention to claim all that is novel in our invention, and that the claims shall be construed as broadly as the prior state of the art may warrant.

What we claim as new and desire to se cure by Letters Patent is 1. In an electric indicating apparatus, the combination of a plurality of disks provided with characters, said disks being free to be manually individually and independently rotated to set position, a plurality of teeth cotiperating with each disk and correspond ing to the number of characters on said disks, means for interlocking and simultaneously rotating the set disks, a circuit closer for the plurality of teeth of each disk, an electric indicator, wiring between the circuit closers and the indicator, and means for simultaneously operating all the set disks to cause the teeth to act on the circuit closers and operate the indicator disks.

2. In an electric indicating apparatus, the combination of setting means comprising a longitudinally movable shaft, disks having characters on their peripheries, said disks being freely rotatable on said shaft when the latter is in one position, to be manually set in operative position, teeth corresponding in number to the characters on each disk, means between the disks and the shaft to cause the latter when in one longitudinal position to rotate the former, means for rotating the shaft and the disks, circuit closers with which the teeth contact, an electrically operated indicator, and wiring between the circuit closers and the electrically operated indicator.

3. In an electric indicating apparatus, the combination of a casing formed with slots, characters adjacent the slots, a plurality of freely rotatable disks adapted to be manually and independently rotated to set position, arms extending through the slots which with the characters adjacent thereto determine the position of the disks, a circuit closer for each disk, means having elements corresponding to the number of characters on each disk to successively operate on the circuit closer adjacent each disk, an electric indicator, wiring between the electric indicator and the circuit closers, and means for simultaneously rotating the disks and the circuit closing elements cooperating therewith to close the circuit closers to transmit to the electric indicator impulses to indicate characters corresponding to the set char acters on the disks.

4. In an electric indicating apparatus, the combination of a casing formed with slots, characters adjacent the slots, a plurality of freely rotatable disks adapted to be manually and independently rotated to set position, arms extending through the slots which with the characters adjacent thereto determine the position of the disks, a circuit closer for each disk, means carried by each disk having elements corresponding to the number of characters on each disk to successively operate on the circuit closer adj acent each disk, an electric indicator, wiring between the electric indicator and the circuit closers, a handle and a shaft for rotating the disks, a spring for rotating the shaft to normal position to rotate the disks and the cooperating elements to operate the circuit closers to transmit to the electric indicator impulses to indicate characters corresponding to the set characters on the disks.

5. In an electric indicating apparatus, the combination of a longitudinally movable shaft, a motor for rotating the shaft in one direction, pins extending from the shaft, a plurality of disks freely rotatable, and independently movable on the shaft, pins extending from the disks, each disk having characters on its periphery, teeth for each disk, said teeth corresponding to the number of characters on the disk, a circuit closer for each disk and with which the teeth of the latter cooperate, a second shaft, a handle on said second shaft, means between the two shafts to cause the first mentioned shaft to be longitudinally moved to engage the motor and subsequently rotate the first mentioned shaft and said motor, whereby the pins will engage and the disks simultane ously rotated and the circuit closers operated to transmit electrical impulses.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a shaft, a spring for 0pcrating the shaft in one direction, a second shaftadjacent the first mentioned shaft, :1 motor to rotate the latter shaft in one direction, means between the two shafts to cause said shafts to be simultaneously rotated in one direction and cause the second mentioned shaft to be engaged by its motor, a plurality of loosely mounted disks on the second mentioned shaft adapted to be individually and manually set, each disk carrying a plurality of characters, and a circuit closer for each disk, means including contacts corresponding in numbers to the characters between each disk and its circuit closer to operate the latter, and means for causing the shaft when rotated by the motor to simultaneously rotate the disks to cause the circuit closers to transmit electric impulses corresponding to the set characters.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a casing formed with openings, characters adjacent the openings, a shaft mounted in the casing, a motor for rotating the shaft in one direction, a plurality of disks having characters thereon corresponding to the characters adjacent the disks, an arm extending from each disk and through a respective slot in the casing, a plurality of teeth associated with each disk, said teeth corresponding to the number of characters on each disk, means between the shaft and disks to cause said shaft to rotate said disks only while the motor is operating, a circuit closer for each set of teeth, a. second shaft for coupling the first meniioned shaft to its motor and winding the latter, and means for returning the second mentioned shaft to normal position.

8. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a plurality of disks, each of which is provided with a plurality of characters, and each of which has associated therewith a plurality of impulse senders corresponding to the number of characters, a circuit closer for each disk and with which the impulse senders cooperate, a motor for rotating the disks in one direction, means including a shaft, a cam and a circuit closer for simultaneously setting the motor to operate the disks and teeth and closing the circuit to cause certain of said teeth to contact with the first mentioned circuit closers to transmit a plurality of electric impulses, means for returningthe shaft and cam to normal position, means for holding the circuit closed until the motor ceases operation, and means for breaking said circuit.

JOSEPH IV. WILEY. JOHN A. KROPP.

In the presence 0f- O. C. AvIsUs, D. C. TI-IORSEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

